Thoughts

[spitdoc]

1. Going into the season we were looking at senior graduate transfers to fill the holes. This reflects the lack of quality OL personnel and this is clearly what we see
2. We do not have great LB crew and the sometimes look very out of position, unable to follow TE's and one step slow
3. We knew that below Mathis and Pinnock we had no depth at CB. This is obvious and Pinnock reminds me of Pitts. Good competitor but one step slow
4. DL is just amazing
5. We do not have any stud RB's who are not freshmen
6. We are afraid of throwing downfield
7. We are in DIRE NEED OF GOOD TE's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG
8. Ironically would be funny if we ran the board and lost two games by two points and got nothing for it
9. I'm exhausted and nothing has changed in the last 32 years that I've followed Pitt football
10. We have SOOOOO many injuries. Is this a function of our current strength and conditioning trainer??
11. We have some amazing frosh.....there is hope for the future !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12. Hamlin has not had a good year
13. Recruiting should focus on OL, LB, TE RB and CB...did I forget anyone?
14. Disappointed because on paper in July this was our best team in 20 years

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

I was very excited when Hamlin signed, 4 star local guy, prized recruit to play for a defensive guru. Big things were going to happen. Especially after seeing local dbacks like Nicholson, Cox, Hooker, Henry signing elsewhere. But flash forward 5 years and Hamlin, while decent, is no where near the star we needed. Hasn't really improved much over the years. And I feel a lot of that is coaching. Maybe he would have been better at CB than strong safety?

 

[tetonpanther]

Too slow was always too slow .

 

[thebadby2]

I was very excited when Hamlin signed, 4 star local guy, prized recruit to play for a defensive guru. Big things were going to happen. Especially after seeing local dbacks like Nicholson, Cox, Hooker, Henry signing elsewhere. But flash forward 5 years and Hamlin, while decent, is no where near the star we needed. Hasn't really improved much over the years. And I feel a lot of that is coaching. Maybe he would have been better at CB than strong safety?

He’s a good , rangy athlete that just isn’t fast enough.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

He’s a good , rangy athlete that just isn’t fast enough.

how were all the services wrong then? He was a legit 4-star, and battled to the end with ND, PSU to sign him? Pat Bostick syndrome?

 

[thebadby2]

how were all the services wrong then? He was a legit 4-star, and battled to the end with ND, PSU to sign him? Pat Bostick syndrome?

I don’t know. I remember watching him the first time he came into a game-when his redshirt was blown late in the season inexplicably—and thinking this dude just does not look very quick-certainly not the fast twitch athlete you’d expect to see as a 4 star corner. He had been battling an ankle or leg injury so I chalked it up to that. But it never changed.

 

[Pittisit4me]

Damar is a good safety in run support. That said, he is inadequate in the Duzz's system where he is required to play alot of man-to-man coverage. He gets exposed because of the system and being a step slow.

Ford is the one athlete good enough to play the Duzz's system but it requires having 4 solid defensive backs on the field. The rest are getting beaten like a drum. Our halfwit coach wasted Ford's freshmen season playing the kid from Shadyside-Academy. We all heard the system was to complex for him. Apparently it is to complex for all our DB's because we get shreaded deep at least twice every game.

If Duzz sticks with the press quarters, he needs to recruit 3 or 4 kids with the ability and speed of Paris Ford. That aint happening, so just get used to us getting beaten over the top every game.

 

[IntrospectiveYinzer]

Damar is a good safety in run support. That said, he is inadequate in the Duzz's system where he is required to play alot of man-to-man coverage. He gets exposed because of the system and being a step slow.

Ford is the one athlete good enough to play the Duzz's system but it requires having 4 solid defensive backs on the field. The rest are getting beaten like a drum. Our halfwit coach wasted Ford's freshmen season playing the kid from Shadyside-Academy. We all heard the system was to complex for him. Apparently it is to complex for all our DB's because we get shreaded deep at least twice every game.

If Duzz sticks with the press quarters, he needs to recruit 3 or 4 kids with the ability and speed of Paris Ford. That aint happening, so just get used to us getting beaten over the top every game.

Hamlin played at Clemson in 2016 and got smoked. I think at that point Narduzzi was willing to play ANYONE

 

[cpc247]

Damar is a good safety in run support. That said, he is inadequate in the Duzz's system where he is required to play alot of man-to-man coverage. He gets exposed because of the system and being a step slow.

Ford is the one athlete good enough to play the Duzz's system but it requires having 4 solid defensive backs on the field. The rest are getting beaten like a drum. Our halfwit coach wasted Ford's freshmen season playing the kid from Shadyside-Academy. We all heard the system was to complex for him. Apparently it is to complex for all our DB's because we get shreaded deep at least twice every game.

If Duzz sticks with the press quarters, he needs to recruit 3 or 4 kids with the ability and speed of Paris Ford. That aint happening, so just get used to us getting beaten over the top every game.

Mathis is that guy, so it is possible. Difficult for sure. But Mathis is really missed.

 

[JokePa]

14. Disappointed because on paper in July this was our best team in 20 years

Defense yes. Offense, I fail to see why anyone thought we had a chance. It’s the same as last years

 

[Usuallyunusual-partdeux]

Pitt needs to open up their wallet for the most innovative OC they can find. They should hire Co-OCs so when 1 leaves the other can run things and bring along another replacement.

 

[gary2]

Damar is a good safety in run support. That said, he is inadequate in the Duzz's system where he is required to play alot of man-to-man coverage. He gets exposed because of the system and being a step slow.

Ford is the one athlete good enough to play the Duzz's system but it requires having 4 solid defensive backs on the field. The rest are getting beaten like a drum. Our halfwit coach wasted Ford's freshmen season playing the kid from Shadyside-Academy. We all heard the system was to complex for him. Apparently it is to complex for all our DB's because we get shreaded deep at least twice every game.

If Duzz sticks with the press quarters, he needs to recruit 3 or 4 kids with the ability and speed of Paris Ford. That aint happening, so just get used to us getting beaten over the top every game.

Mostly agree here

 

[bwh05]

Mostly agree here

Ford is the right athlete for the system but he’s undisciplined and busts assignments at times. To play the way we play in the secondary doesn’t allow much room for error. Mistakes seem to end up 70 yard TD’s.

 

[HailtoPitt]

I was very excited when Hamlin signed, 4 star local guy, prized recruit to play for a defensive guru. Big things were going to happen. Especially after seeing local dbacks like Nicholson, Cox, Hooker, Henry signing elsewhere. But flash forward 5 years and Hamlin, while decent, is no where near the star we needed. Hasn't really improved much over the years. And I feel a lot of that is coaching. Maybe he would have been better at CB than strong safety?

It's was clear during his first game as a freshman that he wasn't nearly as good as advertised.

Pitt lacks a good overall defense. They have a good DL and one good player in the secondary. That isn't good enough to do well.

 

[PittMiamiRivalry]

Pitt needs to open up their wallet for the most innovative OC they can find. They should hire Co-OCs so when 1 leaves the other can run things and bring along another replacement.

In that position he must tune out Narduzzi who obviously knows nothing about offense or recruiting good offensive players except Nate.

 

[Pitt fan in Pittsburgh]

Of course, we will all say Hamlin isn't great hear...then he will go to the league with guys like Maddox and have a decent career and will just be more proof that Narduzzi's defensive scheme sucks.

 

[chirurgo]

I was very excited when Hamlin signed, 4 star local guy, prized recruit to play for a defensive guru. Big things were going to happen. Especially after seeing local dbacks like Nicholson, Cox, Hooker, Henry signing elsewhere. But flash forward 5 years and Hamlin, while decent, is no where near the star we needed. Hasn't really improved much over the years. And I feel a lot of that is coaching. Maybe he would have been better at CB than strong safety?

It’s not Hamlin’s fault he was overrated coming out of high school. We look at Western PA kids too heavily to be the saviors of this program even if they are 4 stars or whatever he was rated. I think the talent disparity is such that kids who are 4 stars in the south are far better than the 4 star athletes Western pa produces. They simply play more football than ours do in the north. This will only get worse as athletes choose sports other than football.

Narduzzi/Bates’ defense doesn’t have enough athletes in the defensive secondary to cover man to man all game and not give up big plays. That’s the design of the defense. On paper looks great, but big plays kill them because they are guaranteed to get beat at least 5 plays a game.

 

[revampedpanthers]

It’s not Hamlin’s fault he was overrated coming out of high school. We look at Western PA kids too heavily to be the saviors of this program even if they are 4 stars or whatever he was rated. I think the talent disparity is such that kids who are 4 stars in the south are far better than the 4 star athletes Western pa produces. They simply play more football than ours do in the north. This will only get worse as athletes choose sports other than football.

Narduzzi/Bates’ defense doesn’t have enough athletes in the defensive secondary to cover man to man all game and not give up big plays. That’s the design of the defense. On paper looks great, but big plays kill them because they are guaranteed to get beat at least 5 plays a game.

I dont think many teams can play this system and not get beat a lot. Its to aggressive and allows to many big plays. You at least have to back the f@ck out of it once in awhile especially on third and 15 or 20. I remember seeing our cb in bump and run on 3 rd and 25 at times in the pn era. No deep help bump and run 3rd and 25.

 

[pbrad]

It’s not Hamlin’s fault he was overrated coming out of high school. We look at Western PA kids too heavily to be the saviors of this program even if they are 4 stars or whatever he was rated. I think the talent disparity is such that kids who are 4 stars in the south are far better than the 4 star athletes Western pa produces. They simply play more football than ours do in the north. This will only get worse as athletes choose sports other than football.

Narduzzi/Bates’ defense doesn’t have enough athletes in the defensive secondary to cover man to man all game and not give up big plays. That’s the design of the defense. On paper looks great, but big plays kill them because they are guaranteed to get beat at least 5 plays a game.

So if the scheme doesn't fit the athlete shouldn't you change schemes?

 

[Black_Man_Panther]

I dont think many teams can play this system and not get beat a lot. Its to aggressive and allows to many big plays. You at least have to back the f@ck out of it once in awhile especially on third and 15 or 20. I remember seeing our cb in bump and run on 3 rd and 25 at times in the pn era. No deep help bump and run 3rd and 25.

They could 20 years. Now... not so much. His system is predicated on the fact that most QB's can't make the throw. The 3rd and 10 throw to Flowers in OT was a pretty good throw - because he had time to set. The biggest play of the game and its the one play where Bates/Narduzzi bring 4. Massive mistake.

 

[Phillypanther2]

1. Going into the season we were looking at senior graduate transfers to fill the holes. This reflects the lack of quality OL personnel and this is clearly what we see
2. We do not have great LB crew and the sometimes look very out of position, unable to follow TE's and one step slow
3. We knew that below Mathis and Pinnock we had no depth at CB. This is obvious and Pinnock reminds me of Pitts. Good competitor but one step slow
4. DL is just amazing
5. We do not have any stud RB's who are not freshmen
6. We are afraid of throwing downfield
7. We are in DIRE NEED OF GOOD TE's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG
8. Ironically would be funny if we ran the board and lost two games by two points and got nothing for it
9. I'm exhausted and nothing has changed in the last 32 years that I've followed Pitt football
10. We have SOOOOO many injuries. Is this a function of our current strength and conditioning trainer??
11. We have some amazing frosh.....there is hope for the future !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12. Hamlin has not had a good year
13. Recruiting should focus on OL, LB, TE RB and CB...did I forget anyone?
14. Disappointed because on paper in July this was our best team in 20 years

“8. Ironically would be funny if we ran the board and lost two games by two points and got nothing for it.”
Suggesting that possibility makes is difficult to take anything you say seriously.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

So if the scheme doesn't fit the athlete shouldn't you change schemes?

That is what a good coach does. You either land the guys that fit the system or change the system to put your guys in the best position to succeed.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

It's was clear during his first game as a freshman that he wasn't nearly as good as advertised.

Pitt lacks a good overall defense. They have a good DL and one good player in the secondary. That isn't good enough to do well.

to be fair, though, Hamlin should have been redshirted freshman year. Was injured most of pre-season and was just thrown in there out of desperation.

although it may be like someone else posted....we'll all say Hamlin didn't live up to potential, then he will make a roster like Maddox and play 10 years in the league. And we will blame the coaching (rightfully so) for not utilizing him properly here.

 

[Joe Magarac]

That is what a good coach does. You either land the guys that fit the system or change the system to put your guys in the best position to succeed.

Well, Narduzzi is not landing the guys or changing his system. Thus.....
You get what we all are seeing on Saturdays.
Narduzzi will be Pitt’s coach through 2021 due to Covid and $$$$$$$$$$.
We, as Pitt fans are stuck with him. We can only hope that the next Pitt hire will not be a carbon copy of the conveyor belt of failed Pitt Football head coaching hires. Maybe next time Pitt will hire someone with previous head coaching experience and not have to provide 4 to 5 years of on the job training before realizing that the training has had no effect on a coordinator who has proven that the Peter Principle has been proven once again

 

[gary2]

1. Going into the season we were looking at senior graduate transfers to fill the holes. This reflects the lack of quality OL personnel and this is clearly what we see
2. We do not have great LB crew and the sometimes look very out of position, unable to follow TE's and one step slow
3. We knew that below Mathis and Pinnock we had no depth at CB. This is obvious and Pinnock reminds me of Pitts. Good competitor but one step slow
4. DL is just amazing
5. We do not have any stud RB's who are not freshmen
6. We are afraid of throwing downfield
7. We are in DIRE NEED OF GOOD TE's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG
8. Ironically would be funny if we ran the board and lost two games by two points and got nothing for it
9. I'm exhausted and nothing has changed in the last 32 years that I've followed Pitt football
10. We have SOOOOO many injuries. Is this a function of our current strength and conditioning trainer??
11. We have some amazing frosh.....there is hope for the future !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12. Hamlin has not had a good year
13. Recruiting should focus on OL, LB, TE RB and CB...did I forget anyone?
14. Disappointed because on paper in July this was our best team in 20 years

1 - Disagree - took a flyer on OT period.
2 - LBs have played well - especially Dennis
3 - Williams can play - Woods looked bad on a play or two - Battle and Royal 4 stars
4 - It was far from it against State and first 3 quarters versus BC
5 - 2 hurt - 1 doesn't play - V.Davis better than his results - running scheme and play calling the fault
6 - Agree
7 - Agree
8 - Yeah
9 - True
10 - Don't think so
11 - True
12 - True
13 - LB and TE recutting has sucked - OL recruiting has improved since Boberly
14 - Agree

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Well, Narduzzi is not landing the guys or changing his system. Thus.....
You get what we all are seeing on Saturdays.
Narduzzi will be Pitt’s coach through 2021 due to Covid and $$$$$$$$$$.
We, as Pitt fans are stuck with him. We can only hope that the next Pitt hire will not be a carbon copy of the conveyor belt of failed Pitt Football head coaching hires. Maybe next time Pitt will hire someone with previous head coaching experience and not have to provide 4 to 5 years of on the job training before realizing that the training has had no effect on a coordinator who has proven that the Peter Principle has been proven once again

coordinators aren't necessarily bad. Just have to find a Bob Stoops, Mark Richt, Kirby Smart who are head coaches in training and not career coordinators like Paul Hackett, Foge, and apparently Narduzzi. Need better interviewing and vetting. Other than sounding like a typical yinzer/jock, what screams "head coach" when listening to Narduzzi speak?

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Well, Narduzzi is not landing the guys or changing his system. Thus.....
You get what we all are seeing on Saturdays.
Narduzzi will be Pitt’s coach through 2021 due to Covid and $$$$$$$$$$.
We, as Pitt fans are stuck with him. We can only hope that the next Pitt hire will not be a carbon copy of the conveyor belt of failed Pitt Football head coaching hires. Maybe next time Pitt will hire someone with previous head coaching experience and not have to provide 4 to 5 years of on the job training before realizing that the training has had no effect on a coordinator who has proven that the Peter Principle has been proven once again

Why must the next hire have head coaching experience? There are numerous examples of successful head coaches that this didn’t apply to.

 

[Joe Magarac]

Why must the next hire have head coaching experience? There are numerous examples of successful head coaches that this didn’t apply to.

Because past performance is the greatest indicator of future results. Career coordinators have no history of past head coaching experience.

 

[Black_Man_Panther]

3. We knew that below Mathis and Pinnock we had no depth at CB. This is obvious and Pinnock reminds me of Pitts. Good competitor but one step slow

Hallett is Pitt's nickel back?? A safety?? WTH Narduzzi... you lose one CB (Mathis) and your down to a safety playing nickel? And wow... was he out of position or what on that TD in OT. I think he was covering the BC Eagle... or maybe the back judge... but he was nowhere near where he should have been. Are these guys coached??

 

[pitt90seven]

Why must the next hire have head coaching experience? There are numerous examples of successful head coaches that this didn’t apply to.

yeah but we suck at finding them.

we're a p5 program - guys will want this job. we should be pulling guys with experience on the job who've proven they can do it vs a "maybe" guy.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Because past performance is the greatest indicator of future results. Career coordinators have no history of past head coaching experience.

Matt Rhule, Gary Patterson, Kirby Smart, Lincoln Riley, Dabo Swinney, Mike Gundy, Billy Napier just off the top of my head in college. Your criteria doesn’t apply to the last 3 hires for the Steelers, and there are a ton of examples for the NFL as well. Rhule might prove to be successful at both levels. You are either cut out to be a good head coach or not. Young, smart, aggressive, good leader, and good recruiter are the qualities to look for. Doesn’t matter if you have head coaching experience.

 

[tetonpanther]

how were all the services wrong then? He was a legit 4-star, and battled to the end with ND, PSU to sign him? Pat Bostick syndrome?

You act like 4 stars dont bust . The first time i saw bosticks slow release and hitch in his delivery i knew we were effed .

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Matt Rhule, Gary Patterson, Kirby Smart, Lincoln Riley, Dabo Swinney, Mike Gundy, Billy Napier just off the top of my head in college. Your criteria doesn’t apply to the last 3 hires for the Steelers, and there are a ton of examples for the NFL as well. Rhule might prove to be successful at both levels. You are either cut out to be a good head coach or not. Young, smart, aggressive, good leader, and good recruiter are the qualities to look for. Doesn’t matter if you have head coaching experience.

I hate to sound age biased, but if you are going the coordinator route, if the guy is in his mid 40's and never was a head coach and always an assistant/coordinator, probably not someone who is cutout to be a head coach. Heck Urban wasn't even a coordinator when Bowling Green hired him. Goes back to interviewing and vetting. Talk to people, see if the candidate is ready to sit in the captains chair.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

I hate to sound age biased, but if you are going the coordinator route, if the guy is in his mid 40's and never was a head coach and always an assistant/coordinator, probably not someone who is cutout to be a head coach. Heck Urban wasn't even a coordinator when Bowling Green hired him. Goes back to interviewing and vetting. Talk to people, see if the candidate is ready to sit in the captains chair.

Correct! A guy in his 30’s who shows those qualities and is driven to be a HC is what you want. The formula the Steelers used to become one of the most successful franchises in all of sports.

 

[tetonpanther]

Pitt needs to open up their wallet for the most innovative OC they can find. They should hire Co-OCs so when 1 leaves the other can run things and bring along another replacement.

Lol good one . Pitt opens its wallet! Hey guys there aint any $$$$ in that wallet they are being subsidized right now

 

[Joe Magarac]

Matt Rhule, Gary Patterson, Kirby Smart, Lincoln Riley, Dabo Swinney, Mike Gundy, Billy Napier just off the top of my head in college. Your criteria doesn’t apply to the last 3 hires for the Steelers, and there are a ton of examples for the NFL as well. Rhule might prove to be successful at both levels. You are either cut out to be a good head coach or not. Young, smart, aggressive, good leader, and good recruiter are the qualities to look for. Doesn’t matter if you have head coaching experience.

It’s Pitt we’re talking here. I could find plenty of examples that disprove your point. At Pitt Foge and Hackett and Narduzzi come to mind immediately.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

It’s Pitt we’re talking here. I could find plenty of examples that disprove your point. At Pitt Foge and Hackett come to mind immediately.

well you have a point. Former NFL guy/alumnus, rising G5 coach, guru coordinators, all had exactly the same results. So maybe it all isn't on one person.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

It’s Pitt we’re talking here. I could find plenty of examples that disprove your point. At Pitt Foge and Hackett and Narduzzi come to mind immediately.

You are either cut out to be a good head coach or not. Young, smart, aggressive, good leader, and good recruiter are the qualities to look for. Those qualities did not apply to Foge or Hackett.

 

[bwh05]

I dont think many teams can play this system and not get beat a lot. Its to aggressive and allows to many big plays. You at least have to back the f@ck out of it once in awhile especially on third and 15 or 20. I remember seeing our cb in bump and run on 3 rd and 25 at times in the pn era. No deep help bump and run 3rd and 25.

I think you can use it, but not as much as we do. I think it's too easy for offenses to figure out our coverage rules, and we're in the same look so much it makes us vulnerable. We need to adjust and figure out ways to counterpunch now that we aren't having success, but that hasn't been a strong suit of PN thus far.

 

[chirurgo]

So if the scheme doesn't fit the athlete shouldn't you change schemes?

Yes.